Dolgellau Junior Wardens with CCG Community Warden, Katie Wilkes
Seventeen year five and six pupils from across Gwynedd will swap their school uniforms for junior warden’s outfits this summer in a project which aims to teach them about safer and cleaner communities.
Following the success of previous years housing association, Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd (CCG) launches the Junior Warden scheme for the fifth year this week. The six week programme aims to encourage the children to become more engaged, promoting respect and pride in the communities in which they live and play.
This year youngsters from Bangor, Dolgellau, Nefyn and Llanaelhaearn schools will take part in initiative. They will get the opportunity to get involved with various activities including drug and alcohol awareness session; a session with the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service; as well as taking part in litter picks and gardening on estates.
For the first time this year they will also receive the recognised ‘Youth Achievement Award’ for taking part in the scheme.
Dylan Thomas, Community Involvement Co-ordinator at CCG said: “This is an important project for us as we work with the youngsters, teaching them about the effects of anti-social behaviour and providing them with some of the basic skills they need to deal with the challenges they face as they grow up. I also hope it will help make them more responsible citizens and teach them a bit more about what it means to be engaged in the community.”
He added: “The response has been fantastic from the schools, and I am looking forward to getting to know the team which will be working with me. Not only do they get to learn some basic skills they also get to meet up with friends over the summer as well as make new ones.”
The course will run during the school holidays, and as a reward for their efforts the group will be taken to a local attraction for a day of fun. There will also be a presentation at the end of the course to acknowledge the children’s achievements.
